Loose leaf binder and sectional ring therefor



July 27, 1937. s. w. NEWMAN 2,088,431

LOOSE LEAF BINDER AND SECTIONAL RING THEREFOR I Filed July 5, 1955 Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED sT 'rEs LOOSE LEAF BINDER AND SECTIONAL RING THERE-FOR George W. Newman, St. Louis, Mo., assignor t0- Loose Leaf Metals Company, a corporation of Missouri Application July 5, 1935, Serial No..29,813

4 Claims.

The invention relates to binders of the toggle joint type, its object being to provide for a toggle joint for the binder ring sections which, while being devoid of means for permanently pivoting the sections together, shall provide for their free movement in opening and closing, and shall securely maintain them in engagement when assembled with other parts of the binder. While the invention may be variously embodied a single preferred form of construction is hereinafter described, and is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a detail plan View of a binder with the cover sides in open position, and provided with sectional rings of the improved type;

Fig. 2 is a detail inverted plan view of the metal parts of the binder, showing the pivotally connected ends of the ring sections;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of one of the ring sections;

Fig. 5 is a detail side view of the inner ends of a pair of ring sections; and

Fig. 6 is a detail similar to Fig. 5, viewed in the plane of the ring.

The invention relates to binders of the type forming the subject of Letters Patent No. 1,900,334, to James C. Dawson, issued March 7, l933,differing structurally, however, therefrom in the form of the toggle joint by which the ring sections are united.

The metal parts of such a binder are usually secured to the back section of a flexible cover III, which may have side plates, either flexible or rigid, connected by means of a back portion II to which the metal parts are attached. For holding the sheets which are to be bound there is provided a plurality of impaling arches, usually, ashere shown, in the form of rings, each ring being composed of a pair of semicircular sections I 2, I3. Each set of these ring sections is mounted upon a connecting rod, as I4, I5, the attachment being rigid, and preferably, though not necessarily, secured by a welding operation.

When the parts are assembled the ring sections are held together by a spring plate I6, in arch form in cross-section, its margins being curved inwardly to hook over the rods I4, I5. The plate I6 is apertured, as shown at Il, Il, to permit the outer portions of the ring sections to project through it, and its width is such that it forces the ends of the ring sections together, as shown in Fig. 3. The assembled metal parts may be secured to the binder back by rivets, as; I8, or other means, setting through suitable apertures in the spring plate. A booster lever IQ, of any desired form,-may be associated with the metal parts as a convenient means for opening the rings, but forms no part of the present invention.

The inner ends of the ring sections I2, I3, abut when the binder elements are assembled, and interfit with one another, being so formed that, while providing for flexure as the outer ends of the rings are spread apart, a separation of thetwo sections is prevented so long as pressure is applied to them from the spring plate I6,. through the connecting rods I4, I5. I

In the illustrated form of the invention the inner ends of the two ring sections I2, I3, are complementary in form, the portions of the end face of each, on opposite sides of the medium radial plane of the ring, being inclined backwardly from the end of the section at like angles to the diameter of the ring, the one, 20, from the outer margin of the ring and the other, 2I, from the inner margin thereof. The inner lateral faces of the tenons thus formed are approximately at the median radial plane of the ring, and each has rubbing contact with a complementary face of a tenon of the other ring section. The several ring sections, as I2, are of like form, their inner ends being secured to one of the rods, as I4, the other set, as I3, being secured to the companion rod, as I5.

The two sets of half rings are thrust through the apertures H, the rods I l, I5, being brought within the hook-shaped sides of the plate i5, and this plate is now flexed to spread its margins apart suificiently to permit the interengagement of the inner ends of each set of half rings. The ring sections having been applied to'the rods I l, I5, in planes normal to the axes of these rods, the outer ends of the ring sections mate together. Preferably, and in accordance with common practice, the outer ends of the rings are suitably notched, as indicated at 22, to interfit, in order to resist forces tending to separate them laterally. These outer joints may be of any desired form.

The rings are opened by the application of force to their outer ends in a direction parallel to their planes. Such spreading action causes the rods I4, I5, to turn and raise the inner ends of the ring sections, thus causing the straightening of the plate I6. As the inner ends of the ring sections pass the center lineof the two rods, the tension of the spring plate urges them still farther upwardly, and maintains the rings in open position; that is to say, a true toggle action is secured.

By reason of the interfitting of the complementary inner ends of the ring sections having the form disclosed, lateral separation of these two ends in any direction is prevented, a smooth hinge action, however, being secured.-

The inner joints of the ring sections may be formed by a swaging operation.

The invention may be differently embodied within its broader aspects, and may include joints in which the engaging inner ends of the rings are not identical in form. The disclosed form has the advantage of simplicity, and consequently cheapness of manufacture; and it provides a joint which retains its form and utility under prolonged use far better than the pivot joint of the Dawson patent referred to.

In practicing the invention it may be in connection with complete binders, or the ring sections may be marketed as separate articles of manufacture to be assembled with other parts of binders of the toggle joint type.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a plurality of sectional binder rings, hinge rods rigidly connecting corresponding sections of the rings, a spring arch plate holding the rods against separating movement, the inner ends of the ring sections being complementary in form, each having the portions of its end face lying on opposite sides of the approximately central radial plane of the ring, inclined in opposite directions and lying on oppositely directed chords of the ring.

2. A sheet holding ring for loose leaf binders comprising twoabutting sections, one pair of the abutting ends each comprising portions on opposite sides of the central radial plane of the ring inclined to a diameter of the ring passing through the abutting ends, the inclination of such portions being opposite but of like degree with reference to such diameter.

3. A ring of the class described comprising two semi-circular segments, such segments adapted to be engaged at their abutting ends and adapted to pivot at one pair of said abutting ends, such pair of ends having irregular complementary engaging surfaces, each of such surfaces comprising a pair of oppositely inclined faces adapted to engage the coacting faces of the other of such engaging surfaces, such faces lying on chords of the ring.

4. In a loose leaf binder, in combination, a plurality of binder rings, each formed of two sections, hinge rods rigidly connecting corresponding sections of the rings and being attached thereto adjacent an end thereof, a spring arch plate yieldingly holding the rods against separating movement, the ends of the ring sections adjacent to the rods being complementary in form each comprising a pair of tenons located on opposite sides of the median plane of the ring, each tenon having an inclined face,

the outer and inner margins thereof, and a face approximately coinciding with the median radial plane of the section.

GEORGE W. NEWMAN. 

